The rising incidence of fibre-optic cable damage across Nigeria has heightened concerns among industry stakeholders, prompting renewed calls for closer collaboration between government agencies, telecommunications operators and infrastructure contractors to safeguard broadband infrastructure and improve service reliability.
The issue took centre stage at the Critical Conversation Forum on Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) 2026, organised by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) in Lagos on Tuesday, where stakeholders identified poor coordination, weak installation standards, construction activities and vandalism as major contributors to the problem.
Industry participants referenced an estimated 27,000 fibre-optic cable cuts recorded nationwide, describing the figure as a reflection of deeper structural weaknesses affecting Nigeria's broadband infrastructure. The discussions also renewed calls for stronger implementation of the country's Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) framework, which designates telecommunications infrastructure as strategic national assets requiring enhanced protection.
During a panel session on technical standards and infrastructure resilience, experts argued that the recurring damage goes beyond accidental incidents and points to longstanding challenges in broadband deployment, including inadequate supervision, inconsistent engineering standards and limited coordination between telecom operators, contractors and public works agencies.
Managing Director of the Edo State Information and Communications Technology Agency, Eghosa Urhoghide, said effective collaboration among all stakeholders remains the most important step toward reducing fibre damage across the country.
"Collaboration is the first thing between stakeholders, communities and government agencies," he said. "Ministries of Works, road maintenance agencies and ICT agencies must work together continuously."
Urhoghide explained that Edo State has introduced stakeholder engagement platforms that notify telecommunications operators before road construction projects commence, allowing them to protect underground fibre infrastructure and minimise accidental cable cuts.
According to him, the state now operates communication systems that provide operators with timely information on planned and ongoing roadworks that could affect fibre-optic networks.
He stressed that beyond improving coordination, strict compliance with engineering and deployment standards is essential to ensuring the long-term sustainability of broadband infrastructure.
Urhoghide noted that in several locations, fibre cables have been installed at depths below recommended specifications, leaving them vulnerable to damage during road rehabilitation and other civil engineering projects.
"If you are going to invest in infrastructure, invest properly so it is sustainable," he said, adding that regulation should focus on enabling compliance rather than punitive measures alone.
Also speaking during the session, Director of Strategy at Huawei, Eric Chan, attributed most fibre network failures to weaknesses in passive infrastructure rather than failures within active network systems.
According to Chan, shallow cable burial, inadequate right-of-way protection and ongoing construction activities remain among the leading causes of infrastructure damage.
"Most of the issues on the passive side are construction-related," Chan said. "The depth of installation is very important. We also need stronger quality assurance and supervision during deployment."
He added that in many locations, fibre infrastructure has either been left exposed or installed without adequate protective measures, increasing the risk of accidental damage and acts of vandalism.
The forum also highlighted infrastructure sharing as a practical strategy for lowering deployment costs while strengthening network resilience.
Chief Executive Officer of Open Access Data Centres, Dr. Ayotunde Coker, urged operators to embrace open-access infrastructure models instead of duplicating fibre networks, arguing that collaboration would improve efficiency across the industry.
Drawing comparisons with the economics of data centre co-location, Coker said telecommunications companies should compete primarily through service quality rather than ownership of physical infrastructure.
"If you are sharing infrastructure effectively, you differentiate on service, not on physical assets," he said. "The real value comes from the layers of services built on top of shared infrastructure."
He further noted that shared fibre networks, supported by robust interconnection and peering ecosystems, would enable operators and digital service providers to scale more rapidly while reducing capital expenditure.
Throughout the discussions, government representatives acknowledged that inadequate coordination between public institutions and private-sector operators remains one of the biggest obstacles to broadband expansion.
Speakers agreed that stronger cooperation among federal and state governments, regulators, telecommunications companies and construction agencies is necessary to safeguard existing infrastructure and support Nigeria's fibre-to-the-home ambitions.
Although the CNII framework provides legal recognition for telecommunications infrastructure as critical national assets, stakeholders observed that enforcement remains inconsistent across different states, limiting its effectiveness.
Participants also called for stricter enforcement of deployment standards, improved right-of-way administration and wider adoption of infrastructure-sharing arrangements to reduce fibre damage, lower operating costs and improve internet service quality nationwide.
The discussions come as demand for high-speed broadband continues to rise, fuelled by increased digital financial services, cloud computing adoption, remote work, online education and growing data consumption.
Industry experts warned that unless stronger coordination mechanisms are institutionalised, the financial burden of repeated fibre cuts will continue to slow network expansion, increase maintenance costs and undermine Nigeria's digital transformation agenda.
ATCON concluded the forum by urging regulators, state governments and private operators to adopt a more coordinated national strategy that protects telecommunications infrastructure while accelerating broadband deployment across the country.